Heartbroken mum who saw her 7-year-old daughter crushed to death by a truck says she doesn’t blame the driver

Yvonne Clarke, 39, watched in horror as her young daughter Sophia was hit by the slow-moving truck in Coventry

By Emma Glanfield

23rd November 2016, 3:49 pm

Updated: 23rd November 2016, 3:49 pm

A HEARTBROKEN mum who watched her seven-year-old daughter being crushed to death by a skip lorry has revealed she doesn’t blame the driver.

Yvonne Clarke, 39, watched in horror as her young daughter Sophia McDonald was hit by the slow-moving truck as the pair crossed the road in Coventry, West Midlands.

Yvonne Clarke, 39, watched in horror as her young daughter Sophia McDonald was hit by the slow-moving truck as the pair crossed the road in Coventry last month

Witnesses described hearing her shout ‘no, no no’ and ‘it’s my fault’ as the nine-tonne lorry crushed the little girl when she ran into the road just yards from the family home.

Her mother has now revealed she doesn’t blame the driver for her daughter’s death after describing the youngster as a “beautiful angel” who had a “cheeky smile”.

Ms Clarke said she had been "overwhelmed” and was “deeply grateful" to those who rallied around the family in the wake of the tragedy on October 18.

In a statement released this week by Coventry Cathedral - where Sophia's funeral is being held next Monday – the family said: "Sophia’s family is overwhelmed and deeply grateful to the people of Coventry and particularly the Bell Green community for their wonderful support.

A local taxi driver, who did not want to be named, said: "I picked a woman up and she saw what happened.

"She said the mother had hold of her daughter's hand and the little girl ran out and fell over.

"The mum lost her grip on the girl's hand and that's when the girl was hit. She was screaming in the street 'it's my fault, it's my fault'."

Samantha Gough, 29, said she was at a nearby chemist when she heard Ms Clarke's screams.

She said: "I came out of the chemist and heard Yvonne shouting ‘no no no’.

"When her saw her, she was hysterical.

"She grabbed my arm and screamed ‘she’s dead, she’s dead’. Then she fell to the floor."

She added: "I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ll just be doing something and then it’ll come back to me. It’s horrible to think it could have been anyone’s daughter."

Caters News Agency

The scene of the crash quickly became a makeshift site for people to pay tribute to Sophia, with many laying flowers for the schoolgirl

Another witness said she saw the mother "screaming like mad on the pavement".

The witness said: "She was crying and wailing. It was heartbreaking. There was nothing that could be done."

The incident occurred just yards from the family's hom

e with witnesses saying that the driver of the lorry, in his 50s, appeared in shock after the collision.

One witness said: "The driver of the lorry was on the road and shopkeepers were next to him. He had his hands over his mouth. He looked in shock."

A local doctor from a nearby GP rushed out to help but the seven-year-old died at the scene.

Tom White, managing director of Tom White Waste, said he had arrived at the scene 20 minutes after the incident occurred.

He said the lorry had been empty with the driver on his way back to the yard. He added: "He was waiting in the middle lane approaching the traffic lights. The little girl must have crossed one lane of traffic before she was hit.

"The driver was not aware of anything until he heard a bump. He moved no more than a yard before he hit her."

London News Pictures

A GP rushed out to try to save the little girl but nothing could be done to save the much-loved seven-year-old schoolgirl

London News Pictures

The driver, in his 50s, was said to be in shock after the incident that claimed the seven-year-old girl's life

Caters News Agency

Friends and family visited the crash scene in the aftermath of the collision to pay tribute to the young girl

He said the driver had 10 years experience, adding: "We all regret what has happened and send our deepest condolences to the girl's family.

"We are all family men here and we are all sorry about what has happened."

Floral tributes were left at the scene for the young girl, with many describing Sophia as an "angel".

One card read: "Goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not one end. It simply means goodbye until we meet again. Rest in paradise Sophia. Love Adele and family."

Another said: "In loving memory of Sophia. Rest in peace, our deepest condolences. From all the staff at Aldi, Bell Green."

London News Pictures

Touching tributes for the young girl were left at the scene in Coventry following her death on October 18

Google Maps

The little girl was crossing Henley Road, Bell Green, Coventry (pictured) when she was hit by the skip lorry

Both Sophia's heartbroken mother and her aunt Annmarie changed their Facebook profiles to pictures of Sophia's smiling school photograph following the tragedy.

The driver of the skip lorry stopped at the scene and is assisting officers with the investigation.

The road was closed for several hours while specialist officers conducted an examination of the scene.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368